CFL Week 13 picks and power rankings

VANCOUVER — Who is where, who is up and who is down? This week’s Canadian Football League breakdown

FRIDAY

Hamilton at Winnipeg, 5 p.m. Pacific time, TSN

The resiliency of Winnipeg sports fans continues to amaze. Despite their team’s 2-9 record, and the most recent crushing defeat -- 44-3 to the Stampeders -- Blue Bomber fans continue to troop to the ticket window. The team has played to 98-per-cent capacity at a stadium slated for demolition, much as the team will be when all is said and done at the end of the 2012 season. Bombers will be close to a sellout again Friday, in an epic battle between 2-9 and 4-7 teams to see which is truly the CFL’s worst. Only a fool would bet on the Bombers, you say? With Buck Pierce back following an eight-game absence, it’s purely a sentimental choice.

Pick: Blue Bombers

SATURDAY

B.C. at Edmonton, 4:30 p.m. Pacific time, TSN

Last Saturday’s 28-23 win over Toronto was much too close in the eyes of many Lions fans, who watched their team release its grip on Argo throats after B.C. had taken a 28-16 fourth-quarter lead. Still, good teams find a way, and the Lions’ defence did. In the wake of their 43-point loss in Hamilton, the Eskimos have hired David Kelly as an offensive advisor. Kelly has coached Terrell Owens and Hines Ward in his career. Wonder if those superannuated NFL receivers would be interested in playing in Canada? Eskimos have the second-worst offence in the CFL. Instead of David Kelly, the Esks might do better to invest in Jim Kelly, or a QB of that ilk.

Pick: Lions

SUNDAY

Toronto at Montreal, 10 a.m. Pacific time, TSN

The Argos and Lions have only two scheduled games this season, but after watching the Double Blue extend the hosts at BC Place on Saturday, we’re left to wonder if Braley Bowl III might be in the offing for Nov. 25, at the Grey Cup in Toronto. The Argos have the best road record and the best division record (4-1) in the East. Their Cup-worthiness certainly will receive a boost with a win Sunday in Montreal, where the Alouettes looked less than impressive a week earlier with second-half struggles in a 28-17 win over Saskatchewan. And it was a costly victory. Both RB Brandon Whitaker and receiver Brian Bratton went down with knee injuries that will test the Alouettes’ depth.

Pick: Argonauts

Calgary at Saskatchewan, 1 p.m. Pacific time, TSN

Esteemed, award-winning columnist George Johnson of the Calgary Herald wrote a perfect piece this week on Kevin Glenn, the understated Stampeder quarterback whose name should be thrown into consideration for most outstanding player, given what he’s accomplished in the wake of a knee injury to presumptive starter Drew Tate. Not to put Tate in the same league yet. But imagine the Lions without Travis Lulay; the Argos without Ricky Ray? Glenn has put the Stampeders in position whereby they’re one key injury away from challenging the Lions for domination in the West. Rookie backup Drew Willy looked capable four days ago against Montreal, but the Roughriders really need a healthy Darian Durant (hip flexor issues) to contend this week.

Pick: Stampeders

Last week: 4-0

Season: 27-17

CFL Power Rankings

B.C. Lions: Now that the Lions QB is second all-time behind Sam (The Rifle) Etcheverry in consecutive games with a TD pass (22), perhaps he needs a suitable nickname: Travis (the Rocket Launcher) Lulay?

Toronto Argonauts: Before Saturday’s game Wally Buono suggested the Argos “are as good a team as we’ll play at this point of the season.” They proved it, coming within one completed pass of a victory at BC Place.

Calgary Stampeders: Like a flying chuck wagon at the Calgary Stampede, the Stamps are gathering speed and headed to a much-anticipated second-half showdown against the Lions at BC Place on Oct. 6.

Montreal Alouettes: The Als have lost RB Brandon Whitaker for the season with a devastating knee injury and will have to go forward without the CFL’s best all-purpose back, at a time when they appear vulnerable.

Saskatchewan Roughriders: It was a very tall order for Drew Willy to defeat Anthony Calvillo in his first CFL start, but ‘Rider backup QB statistically was not very far off in closer-than-anticipated loss in Montreal.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats: Good week for the Ticats’ coaching staff, which not only concocted a huge win over Edmonton but chased down a thief vandalizing a car outside their offices at Ivor Wynne Stadium.

Edmonton Eskimos: After two near-misses against the Stampeders, the Esks came crashing down in Steeltown, a 43-point loss that was not only embarrassing but showed Edmonton really is not a contender.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers: Paul LaPolice was fired after his team extended the Lions to the limit, but the disastrous regime of Joe Mack/Tim Burke shows LaPo was the least of the Bombers’ problems.

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